Cablegrams.

Otago Witness, Issue 1506, 25 September 1880, Page 10

Cablegrams.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

London, September 15th. Further intelligence to hand from the I Cape of Good Hope states that Lethrode, the Baauto chief, attacked the Cape Bines on Monday, but his forces were repulsed. At the wool sale to-day 8300 bale 3 were offered, making a total of 230,000 catalogued since the opening. The tone of the sale continues firm. (Per Merchant Shipping and Underwriters' Association.) September 15th. Arrived : Araby Maid, from Port , Chalmers June 12th ; Dumfriesshire, from Lyttelton May 13th ; Fleur-de-lis, from Lyttelton May 22nd ; Mendoza, from Lyttelton May 27th; Oochrina, from Lyttelton June 3rd ; Crown Thorpe, from Wellington June 4th ; Mercia, from Timaru June 9th ; Altars, from Oamara June Ist. September 16th. The mail via Brindisi which left Melbourne on August 16th was delivered here to-day. Scotch pig iron in London is worth 523 per ton. The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is £16,625,000. At the wool sales to-day 8700 bales were offered, making a total of 228,800 catalogued since the opening. One thousand seven hundred bales have been withdrawn from sale since the opening. ' Henneasy's and MartelFs brandy 10a 6d. The wool sales to-day showed a firm and active demand for nearly all the classes offered. Consols 97f . Bank rate of discount, 2£ per cent.; market rate, 2£ per cent. Five per cent. New Zealand 10-40 loan, 103£; 5 per cent. 1880 loan, 102; U per cent. 1879-1904 loan, 97|. The wheat market is firm. Adelaide (ex warehouse), 445 ; New Zealand wheat (ex ship), 425 ; Adelaide flour (ex warehouse), 333. Tallow is quiet. Best Australian beef, 33s 6d ; best mutton, 35s 6d. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,340,000 quarters. No. 1 Scotch pig-iron, free on board in the Clyde, 52s Gd. At the wool sales to-day 7500 bales were offered, and a firm and active demand continued. j September 17th. The Great Powers have presented their ultimatum to the Porte, strongly insisting on the cession of Duloigno to Montenegro, and active warlike preparations are being made by the combined fleet now at Ragusa, for the purpose of enforcing the same. September 18th. At the wool sales to-day 9700 bales were offered, making a total of 238,500 catalogued since the opening. The tone of the sale continues firm. Arrived : William Bavie, from Port Chalmers 3 une 23rd ; Earl Granville, from Lyttelton May 20th. The death is announced to-day of the Right. Hon. Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, aged 84. It is announced that Turkey has sent a Note to the Powers protesting against their proposed combined naval demonstration, because it is feared the same will cause anarchy in the Turkish Empire. The Porte, however, agrees to guarantee to carry out the demands of the Powers in regard to the cession of Dulcigno if the naval display is abandoned. Paris, September 18th. The crisis whioh has continued in the Frenoh Chambers for some days past in regard to the expulsion of the Jesuits has now terminated, Ministers having agreed to fully execute the March decrees against the Order. Pakis, September 20th. Interviews have taken place with Ministers for the purpose of reviewing their action with regard to the expulsion of Jesuits from France. M. Freyoine, President of the Council of Ministers, has resigned, and M. Ferry succeeds him. Constantinople, September 15th. Five thousand Montenegrins are marching to Dulcigno to occupy that town and the surrounding district. September 19th. Intelligence ha* been received here that the Albanians have reoccupied Daloigno

and expelled the Turkish garrison which was Btationed there.

Berlin-, September 16th. Prince Bismarck, Chancellor of the German Empire, has undertaken tho control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

PROVINCIAL,

Oahabtj, September 20th. A much-needed rain fell last night, and this has given farmers a most favourable start for a good yield this season. Quebnstown, September 20th. About 200 attended the public meeting at Arrowtown on Saturday night re Warden Stratford's removal. The Mayor explained the object, aud read a telegram from the Minister ! of Justice stating that the removal was owing to the retrenchment ordered by Parliament. Mr Finn, M.H.R., was present by invitation, and addressed the meeting amidst much excitement. It was proposed and seconded that Mr Finn and the Mayor should communicate with the Government for the purpose of making Arrowtown the headquarters of the combined Wakatipu and Dunstan districts. An amendment, that the Government be requested to retain Warden Stratford in the district, was received amidst uproar and cries of "Let him go, in God's name !" "Let him clear out," " We have had enouerh of him," and other more choice expressions. Finally, about half -a dozen voted for the amendment, and the motion was carried by the rest. Inveboabgill, September 21st. Over 1100 signatures have been appended to the memorial to the Minister for Public Works agreed to at the meeting held on Monday last ra the railway time-table. It is expected that this number will be considerably augmented i before the lists are closed.

INTERPEOVINOIAL.

Auckland, September 16th. Jacob Swift, who arrived by the Rotomahana from the Sontb, was charged at the Police Court with smuggling about L3OO worth of watches, jewellery, Ac. Mr Broadfield conducted the caee, and stated that the defendant landed at Lyttelton with a large quantity of watches and jewellery from Sydney, that he there evaded the Customs, and had since been disposing of goods at Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, and thence to Auckland, where it came under the notice of the police. He pressed for the heaviest penalties, as it was smuggling on a large scale. The defendant pleaded guilty, and stated that as he was not asked for duty .he did not pay any The Bench imposed a penalty of LIOO and costs, the Resident Magistrate remarking that the evasion was on too huge a scale to warrant any reduction of the penalty. The seizure together with fine, will take the gloes off the profits of Swift's venture. Mr A. E Isaacs valued the goods forfeited at Ll5O wholesale, and the fine and expenses will bring the total loss up to considerably over L 250. m , , , , September 18th. Ine capture of the smuggled jewellery in the possession of the German, Jacob Seift, and his being fined LIOO fer smu<r ;"-'■. g, did not end the extraordinary business, r rJle gold dust was found among his effects which the police seized, The defendant cli4med the gold duafc,

and said it was not smuggled, but that h* , had procured it down South in exchange tot goods, and be asked that it be returned to him. The Magistrate decided to consider the matter, and the result was that a fresh information was laid by Mr Hill, under the Gold Duties Act, and the defeno'ant mulcted in a penalty of 20s and costs, though ably defended by Mr Dufaur, who urged that as the gold had not been removed out of the Colony there could have been no export. The Bench, however, held that the shipment of , gold from one port to another waa an export Then the ability of the delinquent to pay the fine was a matter for dis. oussion ; but this difficulty was soon solved, for though ue denied bin ability, the detectives discovered among his effects at the hotel wb«ro he lodged a cartridge- case containing about 200 sovereigns, although he had averred that it only contained cartridges. Out of this treasure he paid the fine and costs.

Last evening a robbery of jewellery at tha L-ity Club Hotel was perpetrated. The stolen property, which U valued at LIOO, belonged to Mr« White, landlady of tbe house. E iwarJ Harr, better known as tbe leading mtmber of Han's Operetta Company, waa charged at the Polica Court this morniug with committing a violent as3ault upon a young man Darned IWII, by knocking him down with a b-.ttle fall of spirits. The evidence showed that the defendant on the previous night was engaged beating bis wife, and that she ran out of ihe room and Ml into the arms of Mr Haygarth. An altercation ensued between the andlord of the hotel and Hart, when, the latter showing fight, the plaintiff came forward to protect Boniface, and he received a violent Wow from a bottle of sherry which Hart had. Jtiart was under the influence of liquor. He S • , ea - lngb ! i wife ' bufc said «»«: he was admmistermg onaatisemenfc to hu daughter. SfSE I *i J . O3U ! ted h1 " 8 wifa - and Rweu E£iw and luuoUnt - T ae Magistrate gen-

« M . , September 20th. A married woman named Julia Moon&y was to-day observed going down the wharf in an. agitated manner, with a book in her hand, She was closely followed by a man. ao that who* she attempted to jump ovar he sei>d he?; Her mind is troubled through the committal of some of her children to the Industrial

The first Spiritualist funeral in Auckland took place yesterday-that of Mrs J. Wilkes. Tha Key. Mi Edger conducted the eerWce. A number of ladies threw bouquets of flowers into the grave.

MrP \r v AyOWANO,A yOWANO, September BUt. Mr {*. M. Reed is on his way to the Colons as the representative of a large and wealthy special settlement party,' for whom he will select a block of land in anticipation of tfaeip HSiSS 1 - ??&& tri L be in A w««a fa «■• middle of October. The first of the party, numbering 12 or 14 families, and brtofftog with! land or Napier some time in December. Amongst the pamngan by the City of New York for Sydney is Mr T. Ivory, Jan, of the Stud Company, Sydney. Mr Ivory will return in about seven months with a string of hone* Zealand.* 0 *" * '""■^ * **«

Grahamstoww, September 17th. A. water-engine on a new principle has ff wn^n 9 !^ 1 ? 082108 - and constructed *° WO J* 20 h«»d of stampers. Th* battery started to-day, and all went off satisfactorily. Ihe battery has started crushing. There was a large meeting of experts, who watched with interest the result of the experiment.

a t. V, Gisbobne, September 16th. A nomble outrage was perpetrated a few days ago upon a little girl three years of age, daughter of a labouring man named Johnson. Ihe pohce are investigating the matter. work at the petroleum springs is progressing favourably. Mr H. Clark, the promote? o! the od-sprmg enterprise in this district, has entered into negotiations for securing a lease on advantageous terms of a block of land just ftf %% t he boan dary of the Gisborne municipality for the purpose of refining petroleum from the oil-springs at Poverty Bay.

Napieb, September 19<h. A claimant has arisen to a number of valuable sections in Hastings street, in the person of the Hon. P. S. Solomon, lately appointed acting Attorney-general for Fiji It appears that years ago Mr Solomon, who was afterwards practising as a solicitor at Sydney, bought those two sections, and gave a power of attorney to Mr Charles Davis to act for him; but it is alleged that the power of attorney gave no authority to sell. Mr Davis did Bell the sections, and they subsequently passed through many hands, and are now in possession of Mrs Adamson, Messrs Eyes, J. Monteith H. Monteith, G. Williams, and g! ?£ o , c Bank o£ New Zealand isaoting for Mr Solomon, and Mr Lascelles has been instructed to take proceedings to recover the property. Mr Solomon, at about the time he purchased the sections, was in partnership with Mr * letchur as millowners at Mongonui and Auckland, and the land was bought in their jomt names, apparently as a partnership transaction, and when the sections were sold about 1804, the conveyances were signed by Mr Fletcher for himself, and bj Mr Davis for Mr Solomon.

™ • Wellington, September 16th. During the Hero's passage from Lyttelton a Mrs Morns, a passenger who booked at Auckland, died from the effects of sea-Hck-ness.

At the Nautical Court, this afternoon judgment waa given re the collision betwaen the Hinemoa and Taiaroa. The Court was of opinion that the conduct of Captain Malcolm andCaptain,Fairchild contributed to the collision. In the first place, the Court thought it would have been advisable if the master of the Hinemoa had not attempted to pass the Taiaroa while rounding Cape Home, as some risk might attach to such a passage. The Court was further of opinion that the captain of the Taiaroa, although technically in his right course, might have avoided a chance of collision by steadying the helm sooner. The case did not appear to be one calling for suspension of either certificate, there being no evidence of carelessness on either side, and the accident being of a slight nature, and excusable to some extent by the necessity of haste in order to reach the bar before dark.

a*. *• *xlt» r Se P tfM nberlßth. At a meeting of the Reform Association last * night it was thought desirable to hold a public meeting with the view of receiving suggestions to prevent a large exodus of people from Wellington. The Wakatipu. which leaves for Sydney this afternoon, takes 63 saloon and 160 steerage passengers. * a Tt • i j « September 20th. It is repotted that the District Judges throughout the Colony have received notice Tof the abolition of District Courts. * «. v W EUj iNGTON f September 21st. Another body was taken out of the harbour thw mororag. It has not ye* been identified.

This makes the fourth within a fortnight. A disturbance occurred between two prisoners In the hard labour gang this morning. After some angry words had passed, a fight ecsaed, and obs of the belligerents received rather severe bruises about the face. The disturbance was at once quelled, and the parties taken before the Visiting Justices, when the assailants were sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. A letter bas been received from Dr Hector, executive commissioner for New Zealand at the Melbourne Exhibition, enclosing a paper relative to the organisation of juries. He adds that the juries will begin work on the Ist of October. He mentions that New Zealand is entitled to nominate a juror for every class in which she exhibits, and the juries must not be domiciled in Victoria. With such short notice he fears that it will be impossible to arrange for securing the services of jurors from New Zealand. la conclusion, he asks Mr Tolhurst. the recipient of the letter, to invite any Now Zealand residents intending ■visiting the Exhibition, and who will be willing to serve as jiiror?, to send their names to him without delay, and he will endeavour to make the best pofsible arrangements. The regulations on appointments of jurors are :— (1) That no commissioner who is an exhibitor, or member of &ny fiim exhibiting, shall take part in the selection or appointment of jurors in fhosa classe3 in which he exhibits. (2) That each country or Colony appointing a commissioner be entitled to nominate a juror for every class in which it nan exhibits, providing that each juror be not domiciled iv Victoria afc the time Buch nomination is made. (3) That no person interested as parfeer or employer in a house exhibiting shall be a juror in classes in which snch person or house exhibits. (4) That; the Commissioners place at the disposal of each jury a sum of money proportionate to the number of exhibits upon which it wiil have to report. Out of this &urn the expenses and remuneration of the secretary, reporters, and clerk, or of the officers performirg the duties appertaining to thcEe positions ; and all personal expenses ef tbe jurors are to ba defrayed. (5) That the Melbourne jury system of 1875 be continued, and that each jury be requested to name exhibitors who merit recognition, and whether their reward should be first, second, third, fourth, or fifth class, leaving the Commissioners to decide whether the highest award should ba a gold, silver, or bronze medal, or a first-class certificate. A meeting of the creditors of Mr Sidey, auctioneer, was held to-day. The liabilities were pet down at L 10,580, and the assets at 1112,800. ]

Hokitika, September 20th.

A youth, named James Carr, 18 years old, a junior clerk in the Union Bank of Australia, was fishing from the upper protective works on Saturday morning last, wben he slipped into the river and was drowned. His body was brand on. the North Beach this morning. An inquest waß held, and a verdict of "Accidental death " recorded.

Mining matters at Mapourika are progressing favonrably, though nothing new has been discovered. Seven ot eight parties are on gold, and others are progressing with, their shafts and tunnels.

Gbetuouth, September 20th, Five days' crushing of 140 tons of quartz from the United Alpine Company yielded 420 c z amalgam from the top plates only. The returns from the top plates of the Golden Fleece Extended Quartz-mining Company, Reefton, for the past two weeks amounted to 627cz amalgam.

A meeting of the unemployed was held last evening at the Town Hall, bis Worship the Mayor in the chair. It was stated by working men that over 100 men were out of employment. The following resolution was carried : — " Owing to the influx of population and consequent dearth of labour in the district, this meeting of the unemployed requestthe Minister for Public Works to consider their case and commence some work that will give employment to the 100 men now unable to find work." It was further resolved thai the resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works.

Chbistchubch, September 16tb. Ingram and White, owners of tbe land at Oxford on which chalk is fennel, have been experimenting on the manufacture of cement. After several unsucceißful attempts to secure the right sort of clay, they obtained an expert, who found a blue clay in the neighbourhood wbich answered the purpose. This produced a beautiful cement, weighing 1181b to the busheL

September 17th.

In tbe Canterbury Cbets Club tournament Mr Moore in tbe second class won the cup, and Mr J. C. Veal, in the firat class, the second fiizd.

September 18th.

On Wednesday a farmer natctd Johnston, whiM ploughing at Upper Biccarton, was so isjured while trying to atop hia plough horses, which had bolted, that he died yesterday morning.

On Friday, Francis Eoberts (an infant) died tinder mysterious circumstances. The mother, formerly a lnnatie, was the only witness of its death. The police have been making irqairies into the matter, but nothing further has been elicited. Brakes have beea discovered on the head of the child.

September 20tb.

A case arising out of the tailcra' strike was heard at the Police Court this morning. John Mendal was charged with having threatened to blind and break an arm or leg of Mat Lias Sorenson, because tbe latter refused to join the Tailors' Society and to act with the men out on strike. The Bench ordered the accused to ba bound over to keep the peace for six months, and expressed their determination to iiiflict the severest possible penalty on the slightest attempt at anything of this kind in future.

There are at present ia Christchnrch, according to information supplied to the Benevolent Society, 94 cases of abject poverty. Of these there are 47 widows with families, 24 deserted wives, and 23 where, through some mishap to the husband, no provision exists for the support of tbe family. An inquest on the body of the infant Frederick Roberts wss held to-day. The evidence tended to show that the mother bad always been very kind to the children, and the iocioi'a post mortem, proved that death resulted from a wound on the head. The mother had been an. inmate of the Lunatic Asylum for some time, but bavis:g considerably recovered she wan formally discharged some six months ago. The Jury return*. d the following verdict, with which the Curocer fully concurred :—: — " The Jury are of opinion tfa&t dsceasf d came to his death by a fracture of the skull, but how the injury was received there is not sufficient evidence adduced to show." Chbistchobch, September 21at. This morniog a seaman on board thy John Keoi was charged with a?eaalt>»ig Captaits D«*v:d, m&sUr <f t':c brrqa v . It syp^arfi that the prisoner bad aeked f<-r moiey to gtt boots with, and on refusal struck the captain with a saucepan, and kicked turn, violently in a struggle which followed.

Tbe captain's statement was supported by several witnesses. For the defence it was stated that the captain assumed a threatening attitude towards the accused when he asked for money to get his boots, and the accused thinking that he was going to be assaulted, lifted a Eaucepan bat did not strike with it, threw it over the caotain's head, and then closed with him. He had never had any trouble with any of the officers of the vessel, and was goaded to act as he did by the manner of the captain. The accused showed the Bench hia boots, which were quite unfit to^ go to sea witb. The Bench were satisfied that an assault had been committed, and a serious one. They remarked, however, that Captain Davis had acted wrongly in not giving the man money to get boots, or an order to get them, especially as there was money due to him. There was no doubt, from the number of times be had brought men before the Court, that Captain Davis quarrelled with his men to a very great extent, and gave them considerable provocation to break the law, which was much to be regretted. The accused was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour, his wages to be paid, and his clothes sent ashore. The master applied to take the man aboard, as he was going to sea, but the Bench refused. An accident of a very singular natnrehappened at Leeston on Monday, to one of Mr David Todd's children. Mr Todd was engaged witb a team cf horses in a paddock near his house, and sent the boy for some water to drink. As the boy did not return for some time he went in search of him, and found him lying under the plough with the handle in his mouth, quite dead. It is supposed he had bsen playing with the plough and had fallen over tbe Handle, causing suffocation. An inquest was held. when a verdict was returned of "Accidental death." At a meeting of the Education Board to-day a resolution was passed expressing tbe opinion that the capitation allowance should not be made on children under school age, and pressing thesubject on the consideration of the Ministers. The Education Act, in clause 83, defines school age to be between 5 and 15. Clause 6. which regulates the capitation, provides that L3 l4s per 100 shall be paid on the average attendance, nothing being said about pchool age. Mr Ballance, when Minister of Education, sent round a circular stating that capitation would be paid on all attend me, irrespective of age. It was stated that 3000 children under five are in attendance ia the Colony* The Harbour Board has reduced all salaries of higher officers from 20 to 25 per cent.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(from oub own ooebespondbnx ) Wellington, September 20th. The Secretary to the Post-office tells me the Taiaroa will leave the Manukau, if possible, to night with the Southern portion of the San Francisco mail. If Bhe can cross the bar tonight she will come direct to Wellington, calling only at Taranaki, and in that case the mail will reach Chrifitohnrch and Danedin on Thurdtiy ; but if not she will go all round by Nelson and Picton, in which case the mail will probably be delayed till Saturday. Wellington, September 21st. The new schedules under the Property Assessment Act were posted to night to all persocg who have made no return under the old regulations. The filled-up forms already received will be utilised as far as possible. A return baa been prepared for the Government of the passengers outward per s.s. Hero, and it turns out that out of a total number of 159 all told, including those in saloon, only nine were Government assisted immigrants. Of the remainder the majority came originally from Victoria or New South Wales, and the rest paid their own passages from Great Britain to New Zealand. A similar proportion is shown in the passenger list of the s.s. Wakatipu to Sydney. These tables were prepared in consequence of a fuss made about the departure of working men, who were alleged to be mostly Government assisted immigrants. This is now disproved. Regarding District Courts, a telegram from New Plymouth to-day states that the Government intend to abolish all District Courts. This, I am assured on authority, is correct. The Government, finding the expenses of so many District Courts enormous, and the business done in many cases vary small, determined to reduce expenses by amalgamation, and so decreasing the number of courts and judges. Thus Judge Bathgate's place will not be filled up, and probably one or two others wilt retire. I hear there are to be only two District Court Judges in the South Island and three in the North Island, wbicb, it ia beliaved, will be amply sufficient to transact all business; it keing also hoped that the Jurisdiction Commission will suggest means of cheapening and simplifying Supreme Court procedure, thus rendering it more accessible to peraonß of moderate means, and co rendering it a substitute for District Courts in such cases as are not suited to the Resident Magistrate's jurisdiction.